Fallon Proposes School Budget Increase

Plan Calls For $5.7 Million In New Spending For `03-`04

EAST HARTFORD — Superintendent James Fallon on Tuesday proposed a $74.6 million school spending plan for 2003-04 that reflects an increase of 8.31 percent over the current budget.

But Fallon said he knows the budget will be cut.

``Given the fiscal climate, we're eventually going to be looking at a considerably lower number,'' Fallon said.

The proposed plan, which is $5.7 million higher than the board of education's $68.9 million budget for 2002-03, calls for a variety of new positions and programs.

For example, the budget includes $504,000 for 10 new kindergarten teachers, which would allow for all-day kindergarten at all of the elementary schools.

Fallon said board members have supported expansion of the kindergarten program in recent years and that he wanted costs to be clear before debates began this year.

About half of the proposed increase is attributed to employee health insurance costs, which rose by $1.7 million, and certified staff salaries, which grew by $1.2 million.

The budget also includes $132,000 to send 44 more students to Two Rivers Magnet Middle School and $45,000 for a new attendance officer at the high school.

The board will hold a series of budget workshops before adopting a budget and forwarding it to Mayor Timothy Larson.

Larson then prepares a town-wide budget, which is sent to the town council.

In May, the town council adopts a budget that includes an appropriation to the board of education.

This year's process is expected to be challenging because of the likelihood of significant reductions in state aid. The state budget deficit for 2003-04 is expected to be at least $1.5 billion.

Town council Chairman Richard Kehoe said East Hartford's fiscal picture won't be known until the work on the grand list is completed in a few weeks and until the state budget is resolved.

``In both cases, it's unlikely the news will be positive,'' Kehoe said. ``I think the board will have a lot of cutting to do.''

Last year, the town council agreed to let the board carry over its $725,000 surplus from the 2001-02 fiscal year.

Kehoe said there is support among some council members to do that again this year.

``Any savings they can generate would help the board next year and help the town overall weather this fiscal storm,'' Kehoe said.

The board is expected to have a surplus of $800,000 to $1.2 million when the fiscal year ends June 30.

If the surplus were $1 million -- dropping the amount spent in the current fiscal year from $68.9 to $67.9 million -- it would mean the budget proposed by Fallon effectively represents a 9.9 percent increase for next year.

Kehoe said he hoped to schedule a joint meeting between council and board members later this month to discuss budget matters.